VA-Birders,
Larry Meade and I set out late morning to find grassland passerines in
Nokesville, Prince Wm County. With the snow-covered ground, we were hoping
they would be concentrated at roadsides or otherwise easier to see. We had
about 25 low-flying HORNED LARKS between two flocks flying around the fields of
Parkgate Rd and Colvin Ln, as well as several AMERICAN PIPITS among them, but
nothing more interesting than that. Longer hours in the field may pay off, as
there are lots of fields in the area where other more interesting species could
be lurking.
Other interesting birds found in the area was a single CHIPPING SPARROW among
a flock of over 20 SAVANNAH SPARROWS along Hazelwood Drive. This is either an
early-returning migrant or actually overwintered in the area, though I did not
see it in any of my earlier winter visits. Also here was a vocal FOX SPARROW
and other sparrow species. I had seen a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW near Parkgate
earlier, but this species played hard to get today otherwise. The marshy area
along Parkgate with the stream running through it yielded at least one RUSTY
BLACKBIRD and a single Brown-headed Cowbird among the Red-winged Blackbirds. A
few E MEADOWLARKS were ambling through the grass here.
Following my recent trip to the Salton Sea and other areas in California
where I found the Yellow-footed and Glaucous-winged Gulls, I greedily wanted to
add our area specialties to the month list at PW Landfill. Larry and I found 4
adult and sub-adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS but unfortunately no Glaucous or
Iceland Gulls, which was surprising considering the more than 6,000 other gulls
there. We probably just missed them. The most notable birds at the landfill
were the three! COMMON RAVENS flying together around the area during the entire
time we were there. There has been a single bird there for months, but this is
the first I have seen more than one at a time there or anywhere in the
immediate area.
It was enjoyable birding, despite the cold temps, especially after
experiencing 84 degrees F in the desert last week!
Take Care,
Jay Keller,
Arlington
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